30 gal setup

[Blockdude92]

How many cichlids can fit safely in a 30 gal tank?

 

[EndlersEatGuppies]

It depends on what type of cichlid, there are over 100 species of them!

Was there a particular cichlid you had in mind?

 

[Kvnr14]

I'm guessing your talking about african cichlids, probably mbuna. I wouldn't recommend these guys in a 30 tank. They need atleast a 4 ft long tank.

 

[Blockdude92]

I was thinking of Africans. Like labs and morrils

 

[cmbtengnr43]

3-4 labs would do just fine

 

[Rlavassor86]

With a 30 you might think about some smaller cichlids like kribs or shell dwellers. The larger cichlids like mbuna are too aggressive for a 30. Need min of 4ft tank so like a 55 gal. With cichlids your tank footprint is more important than gallons

 

[Scottyhorse]

3-4 Africans would be sooo mean to each other.

You could do a few rams, apistos, or a few trios of shell dwelling cichlids like multies.

The reason you need a 4 ft. tank like a 55 gallon is because the African cichlids are pretty aggressive, get fairly large, and you need to overstock to prevent aggression.

 

[Blockdude92]

How about like rams and gouramis? Would those work better?

 

[Rlavassor86]

How about like rams and gouramis? Would those work better?

Some say no, but I've had a gourami with my bolivian rams and haven't had even a hint if a problem. My gourami stays up top and in middle unless there's food on the bottom and my rams stay on the bottom unless they come up for flakes. I would recommend only having one gourami though because a lot if times they don't get along well with other gourami.

 

[cmbtengnr43]

3-4 in a 30 is overstocking to cut down on aggression lol

 

[cmbtengnr43]

Plus yellow labs only get 4" and they are the least aggressive of Malawi

 

[Crawdaddy]

Plus yellow labs only get 4" and they are the least aggressive of Malawi

I don't know about your yellow labs, but my two parents are 6 and 5 inches. The female being the smaller.